Staff members of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, along with five SRC members, recently attended the screening of a new documentary on the life of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Titled A Tree Has Fallen – Remembering Desmond Tutu, the documentary was directed by Marika Griehsel and features conversations with people who were close to the Arch.

Andiswa Mrasi, Acting Manager: Unit for Strategic Initiatives and Projects, Mandisa Silo, Head of the Department of Tourism and Events Management and District Six SRC members Ongeziwe Jeke, Xolani Booi, Thaler Mbaba, Nwabisa Sotyingwa and Xolisile Dingilizwe attended the event.

“In line with Vision 2030's focus areas 6 and 7 of smart student engagements and linkages with quintuple helix partners, The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, through its unit for Strategic Initiatives and Projects (SIP) has been intentional in all its collaborations. One such strategic partnership is with the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, hence the exclusive invitation to the screening of the documentary "A Tree has fallen, Remembering Archbishop Desmond Tutu,” said Mrasi.

She said it was a great honour to have been invited to the event and to have been accompanied by “our SRC members”.

“Seeing them network with some of the international guests present, including the Swedish Ambassador to South Africa was heart-warming. Lastly, what stood out the most was how appreciative they were of such an experience, claiming that it was indeed an eye opener in terms of leadership and values.”

Written by CPUT News
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The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences in collaboration with the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Division of Student Affairs and Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity and Social Change recently hosted a Youth Month Commemoration event at Bellville Campus.

The event, themed, “Inspire Hope in the Student of 2024”. drew inspiration from the 1976 youth, who stood up in the hope of creating the tomorrow they envisaged. Manager: Strategic Initiatives and Projects, Andiswa Mrasi, said: “Today, our students are navigating various issues ranging from GBV, youth unemployment, and AI to mention a few. Therefore, this event seeks to encourage the students of 2024 to take up space and turn fear into hope as we work hard to build a better South Africa, Africa, and ultimately, the world we want.”

The event, which was also attended by the Dean of Students, Nonkosi Tyolwana, included a panel discussion, a live performance by a well-known international musician Cairo CPT, poetry, a public lecture on the role of the late great, Archbishop Desmond Tutu during the 1976 student uprising. On behalf of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Charlene Houston said: “The Arch always said to young people: ‘Go on dreaming that we are going to have a different world to the one we live in’”.

She said the quality of education was always an important matter for Archbishop Tutu. Houston said his father was an educator, and he became a teacher. “Both he and Mrs Tutu were teachers until they understood the implications of the newly introduced Bantu Education system. They resigned in protest.” She said young leaders needed to look at what platform they have, what influence they have, and “how you can use that to make a difference”.

Houston added that Tutu always urged the “oldies” to listen to young people and he encouraged youth to use their voices and to take action. “Dream you must, but you also need to take collective action.”

She also reminded the young people that they have “a wonderful heritage, you stand on the shoulders of brave courageous, and righteous people such as the Arch, Mbuyisa Makhubu, and the youth of 1976”. “Hopefully, you participated in the recent national elections. It doesn’t stop there. Learn about the ways to stay involved…. there are many channels to do so formally or informally. As the Arch said, ‘Don’t be infected by the cynicism of oldies who believe this world can become better for all’, The baton is yours to pick up!”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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